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| 1. Project Details |
| Author or Responsible Organization |
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R. D. Smith and E. Maltby. (2003). Using the Ecosystem Approach to Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity: Key Issues and Case Studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. x +118 pp. |
| Project Title |
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Non-timber forest products in Lao PDR |
| Date of Publication |
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| Project Status |
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Ongoing |
| Project Start Date |
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| Project End Date |
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| Countries |
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Lao People's Democratic Republic |
| Regions |
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| Funding Source |
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| 2. Background to Project |
| Project Issue/Problem Statement |
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This initiative sought to overcome two problems: 1. The unsustainable and inefficient use of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs); and 2. The absence of incentives for local people to protect biological diversity. |
| Project Description |
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The NTFP Project can be categorized as an Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP). Use of NTFPs has been promoted by the project with the aim of (1) alleviating poverty, food insecurity, and gender inequality; (2) conserving forests and landscapes/watersheds; and (3) developing sustainable forest-based commerce and industry. These objectives were pursued through action learning and participatory approaches. The project sought to increase stakeholder interest by promoting economic development and by involving local people in planning, management and benefit sharing. Key targets were: 1. Demonstration of sustainable NTFP use systems that contribute to conservation; 2. Promotion of community-based organizations who manage NTFP/forest resources; 3. Improvement of the well being of pilot villages through promotion of alternative livelihoods to reduce pressure on forests/ build capacity for conservation; 4. Improvement to the marketing of NTFPs to create incentives for sustainable use through improved income from forests; 5. Development of an expansion strategy to spread sustainable NTFP use models; 6. Laying the groundwork for a national management strategy for NTFPs. Achievements have been in four main areas: 1. Community NTFP harvesting rules; 2. NTFP marketing groups; 3. Domestication of NTFPs; 4. Aquatic resource management. |
| Highlighted Aspects of Ecosystem Approach |
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· Conservation, equitable sharing of benefits and sustainable use of the resources were simultaneously addressed. · Conservation of ecosystem functioning and processes was an important objective as many NTFPs are dependent on particular ecosystem types. Measurement of off-take per unit of effort provided an indication of whether the forests were being managed within appropriate limits. · Goods were identified as food, medicines and foreign exchange from trade in NTFPs. Services identified were watershed protection and eco-tourism potential. · Promotion of trade in NTFPs benefits the poorest most as they depend on this income to buy rice. · A combination of scales were found to be appropriate: villages were the most appropriate level of forest management, but higher level networking approaches were necessary for issues concerning trade regulations and inter-village agreements at district level. · Intersectoral linkages were promoted through strategic arrangements with local institutions. · A number of adaptive management strategies were tested, including: in-situ sustainable harvesting of NTFPs, ex-situ domestication of NTFPs to reduce pressure on wild resources, participatory management of forests by local communities and activities aimed at improving well-being of rural communities to reduce pressures on forests |
| Conclusions |
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The NTFP approach is a good example of a practical application of the EA. The NTFP approach could gain more rapid adoption beyond local levels by linking to regional and global approaches such as the EA. |
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| 3. Sectors and Biomes |
| Sectors |
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Forestry
Others |
| Biomes |
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Agricultural Biodiversity
Dry and Sub-Humid Lands Biodiversity
Forest Biodiversity
Inland Waters Biodiversity
Mountain Biodiversity |
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| 4. Tools and Approaches |
| Tools and Approaches |
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Relevance
Score |
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Further
Information |
| Public Participation |
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3-High |
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| - Community based methods |
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3-High |
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| Governance, Law and Policy |
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3-High |
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| - Assessment Techniques |
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3-High |
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| Management and Incentives |
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3-High |
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| Data, Monitoring and Modelling |
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3-High |
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| - Modelling |
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3-High |
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| 5. Issues |
| Issues |
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Relevance
Score |
| Identification, Monitoring and Indicators |
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3-High |
| Sustainable Use of Biodiversity |
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3-High |
| Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices - Article 8(j) |
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3-High |
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| 6. Ecosystem Approach |
| Principles and Operational Guidance |
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Relevance
Score |
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Reason
(Only if NOT relevant) |
| Principle 1: The objectives of management of land, water and living resources are a matter of societal choices |
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3-High |
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| Principle 2: Management should be decentralized to the lowest appropriate level |
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3-High |
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| Principle 3: Ecosystem managers should consider the effects (actual or potential) of their activities on adjacent and other ecosystems |
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3-High |
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| Principle 4: Recognizing potential gains from management, there is usually a need to understand and manage the ecosystem in an economic context |
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3-High |
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| Principle 5: Conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning, in order to maintain ecosystem services, should be a priority target of the ecosystem approach |
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3-High |
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| Principle 6: Ecosystem must be managed within the limits of their functioning |
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3-High |
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| Principle 7: The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales |
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3-High |
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| Principle 8: Recognizing the varying temporal scales and lag-effects that characterize ecosystem processes, objectives for ecosystem management should be set for the long term |
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3-High |
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| Principle 9: Management must recognize the change is inevitable |
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3-High |
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| Principle 10: The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate balance between, and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity |
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3-High |
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| Principle 11: The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of relevant information, including scientific and indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices |
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3-High |
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| Principle 12: The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines |
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3-High |
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| Operational Guidance A: Focus on the relationships and processes within ecosystem |
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3-High |
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| Operational Guidance B: Enhance benefit-sharing |
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3-High |
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| Operational Guidance C: Use adaptive management practices |
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3-High |
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| Operational Guidance D: Carry out management actions at the scale appropriate for the issue being addressed, with decentralization to lowest level, as appropriate |
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3-High |
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| Operational Guidance E: Ensure intersectoral cooperation |
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3-High |
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| 7. Lessons Learned and the Outcomes |
| Lessons Learned |
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· The NTFP approach is a good example of a practical application of the EA· The NTFP approach could gain more rapid adoption beyond local levels by linking to regional and global approaches such as the EA. |
| Outcomes |
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| Other Information |
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| 8. References |
| References |
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R. D. Smith and E. Maltby. (2003). Using the Ecosystem Approach to Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity: Key Issues and Case Studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. x +118 pp. |
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| 9. Contact Details |
| Contact Person |
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Ms Leah Mohammed |
| Job Title |
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Intern |
| Organization |
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CBD |
| Address |
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Montreal World Trade Centre |
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393 Saint-Jaques, 8th floor |
| Postal Code |
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H2Y 1N9 |
| City |
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Montreal |
| ZIP/State/Province |
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Quebec |
| Country |
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Canada |
| Telephone |
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514-288-2220 |
| E-mail Address |
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leah.mohammed@biodiv.org |
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